Pupusatime Might Be The Best Meal You'll Find For Under $5
You'll pay more in tolls on the drive there
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There are plenty of cheese-stuffed, fried cornmeal flatbreads in Latin American cuisines. But none are as fun to say as “pupusa.” It’s literally impossible to sound angry when you’re saying pupusa. Even if you’re saying it in Russian.
Perhaps the only thing more enjoyable than saying “pupusa” is eating a pupusa, especially if said pupusa comes from Pupusatime, a bright blue shack on the corner of Johnson Street and SR-7 in Hollywood.
Inside you’ll find the best place for Salvadorian street food in South Florida, cranked out by a husband-and-wife team making each one from scratch on a tiny grill. That means every pupusa is made as fresh as if you were eating at someone’s home. And that also means it may take a while. But hanging around inside is part of the experience, and within two bites you’ll completely forget how long you’ve been there.
Ok cool. But before I drive to Broward what is a pupusa?
Like its cousins the arepa and the gordita, a Salvadorian pupusa is a cornmeal flatbread stuffed with cheese and beans, then fried on a griddle. It can also be filled with meat, veggies, and pretty much anything else you can imagine, then served with a pickled cabbage called curtido and a smooth tomato salsa.
The space: Is small, kinda hot, and packed with people who look like they know a good pupusa. It is exactly what you want in a hidden gem Salvadoran street food spot, complete with a giant flag on one wall and a colorful map of the country on the other. So if your food takes longer than expected, take heart in knowing you’re going to crush El Salvador geography during your next trivia night.
What to eat and drink: The menu stretches far beyond pupusas, with other Latin staples like tacos, pan con pollo, tamales, and even hamburgers. But you’re here for the pupusas, and by god that’s what you’re getting. The owner says his favorite is the Revueltas, made with cheese, beans, and chicharrónes. The birria is the standout though, stuffed with birria-braised beef and cheese, and served with au jus and onions. Somehow, it’s less greasy than most birria tacos.
The jalapeno and chorizo is the move for those who love spicy food. Though the classic pupusa with beans and cheese is still the best I’ve had since I visited my friend in San Salvador and his housekeeper wouldn’t stop feeding me.
Perfect for: Lunch on the go. Meals with your family where everyone wants something different, and $25 a person at a food hall isn’t in the budget.
Expect to pay: $5-10. Value is off the charts.
Pro tip: One is a meal. Two is gluttony. If you want to sample a few of them, plan to have leftovers.
How’s the parking: There’s a public parking area for a playground across the street that usually has spaces.
@pupusatime_hollywood // 5958 Johnson St. #4, Hollywood